Many railfans, railroaders,
and historians will argue
that one of the biggest mistakes CSX ever made (in Virginia) was
abandoning the former Seaboard Air Line (SAL) mainline between South
Collier, VA and Norlina, NC. Regardless of one's opinion, the line is no more. The
SAL was the arch rival of the Atlantic Coast Line (ACL) and the two
companies both made their northern terminus in Richmond. The SAL was
actually headquartered in Richmond for a number of years with their
corporate offices being located adjacent to joint RF&P/ACL trackage.

Almost immediately following the
1967 merger with the ACL, the segment from Centralia to Petersburg was
abandoned in favor of using the existing ACL mainline (A-Line). In 1987
CSX finally pulled the plug on the Norlina Subdivision and the tracks
were removed. Coincidentally, the signals that once protected the
S-Line were sent to Savannah, GA for refurbishment and are now serving faithfully on the North End Subdivision
between Richmond and Rocky Mount, NC.

The last scheduled train was Amtrak 81
which ran on Sunday, October 26, 1986.

The last official train operated over
the line was a rail train in March 1987.

Thanks to the generous
contributions from Steve Hammer, Herman Wilkins, Walt Gay,
and Jeff Allgood, I am
able to feature the S-Line in in the "Abandoned Rails" section
of the website.
It should be noted that most of the views seen below are not possible
anymore due to extensive overgrowth. For additional photos of the modern day Norlina Subdivision,
click here.

The ominous SAL Bridge over the Appomattox River
in Petersburg is being dismantled in this 1983 photo. The large
concrete piers still stand to this day.

Photo by Herman Wilkins - 1983

Burgess

This photo is
believed to be looking north at Burgess from what used to be the Quaker
Road grade crossing. Barely visible in the distance are the
Interstate 85 bridges.

Photo by
Walt Gay - 1987

North of Dinwiddie - S34.0

Oops! SCL caboose
No. 0950 from train 289 has
overturned at milepost S34 during a derailment in 1984.

Photo by Herman Wilkins - 1984

Dinwiddie - S37.5

The beginning of the end. CSX crews begin the
process of ripping up the rails through Dinwiddie. From here on out,
only memories will remain of trains traversing this line.

Photo by Herman Wilkins - 1987

Dewitt - S41.8

Just prior to abandonment, SCL GP38-2
No. 2546 is
seen passing through DeWitt to pick up the last few cars at McKenney.

Photo by Herman Wilkins - 1987

Georgia Pacific Chip Mill

This wood chip mill was located a
few miles north of McKenney along US Route 1. Author and historian Bill Griffin
recounts this as being the only active shipper between South Collier and
McKenney at the time CSX abandoned the Norlina Subdivision.

Photo by Walt Gay - Date Unknown

McKenney - S

View of the structure after abandonment.

Photo by Walt Gay - Date Unknown

Alberta - S61.1

In this view
looking south, you can clearly see where the Virginian spanned the Seaboard
mainline. Note the old station off to the right that was
featured in the previous photo.

Photo by Steve Hammer - July 1991

Alberta Station - S61.1

Jeff Allgood shot this photo of the
"station" in Alberta just one year prior to the line's abandonment. This structure
still stands today. Note the bridge in the top left corner of the
photo that carries the former Virginian over the Seaboard. The
last official train thru the Town of Alberta was operated by Norfolk
Southern on April 22, 1988.

Photo by Jeff Allgood - 1986

Alberta - S61.1

The fall colors are at peak in this photo looking
south, just south of the crossing. It has now been 5 years since the tracks were taken
up and the right-of-way is surprisingly still somewhat clear.

Photo by Photo by Steve Hammer - October
1992

Alberta Oil House - S61.1

The old oil house in Alberta stands
amongst
the rapidly growing weeds.

Photo by Steve Hammer - October 1992

Alberta - S61.1

Another building located in Alberta.

Photo by Steve Hammer - October 1992

Alberta - S61.1

Yet another structure from Alberta.

Photo by Steve Hammer - October 1992

LaCrosse - S79.0

Another town that once hosted
two railroads is LaCrosse. In addition to the Seaboard, the Norfolk, Franklin & Danville ran
east/west through town crossing the S-Line on a diamond that was located
just in the middle of the photo. The brick structure no longer
stands. This view is
looking north and US Route 58 is barely visible in the center of the photo on the
dirt fill.

Photo by Steve Hammer - June 1992

LaCrosse - S79.0

The oil house along with
another building in LaCrosse. Both structures have since been
demolished.

Photo by Steve Hammer - June 1992

LaCrosse - S79.0

Steve Hammer provides this view of the SCL
"station" that served LaCrosse in the later years of the line. The right-of-way is located on the very
left edge of the photo and follows the pole line in the distance.
While the code line poles are gone, the building remains.

Photo by Steve Hammer - June 1992

Bracey - S83.7

Looking
north from what used to be the Bracey Drive grade crossing.

Photo by Jeff Hawkins - February 18, 2004

Bracey - S83.7

The old depot in Bracey is now privately owned and
still looks respectable in this modern view.

Photo by Jeff Hawkins - 2002

Bracey - S83.7

This photo shows how the depot
appeared in April 2008. Note that the "BRACEY, VA" sign on the end
of the building is now gone. I don't know if this was removed by
the owners or if someone stole it.

Photo by Jeff Hawkins - April 2008

Bracey - S83.7

Looking south
from what used to be the Bracey Drive grade crossing. The depot is visible through the trees in the left of the
photo.

Photo by Jeff Hawkins - February 18, 2004

Bracey - S83.7

The view looking south from the Highway 903
overpass towards Lake Gaston in April 2008.

Photo by Jeff Hawkins - April 2008

Bracey - S83.7

The view looking north from the Highway 903
overpass in April 2008. This deep cut was known as the "Grand
Canyon of the East" by Seaboard crews and railfans alike. The
northbound grade was a stiff one as the line rose in elevation as it
left Lake Gaston.

Photo by Jeff Hawkins - April 2008

Lake Gaston Bridge - S86

This photo was taken from Interstate 85 and
shows the Seaboard's bridge that spanned Lake Gaston.